Electron multiplying device



NOV. 11, 1952 KALLMANN 2,617,948

- ELECTRON MULTIPLYING DEVICE Filed NOV. 18, 1948 OIOOOO/I T 1 & 72

LL 1. M n 77 a l 17 /0 {I INVENTOR.

BY wane.

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I Heinz E. Kallmann, New York, N. Y. I Application November 18, 1948, Serial'No. 60,751

3.Claims. (01. 250-207) My present invention relates to electron multiplying devices of all types regardless of "whether their input stage is a photo-cathode or a grid controlled amplifier stage, or any other source of amplitude modulated electrons.

Electron multipliers are used for an increasing number of purposes since they provide in a single tube very large amplification over wide frequency ranges. As, by the well known process of liberat ing secondary electrons on each successive secondary-emitting electrode, or dynode, the output current is directly proportional to the current in the input stage, it follows that the amplification in any of the usual electron multipliers is exactly the same for the D. C. component of the inputstage current as it is for any amplitude modulation thereof.

In many applications, only the modulation of the current is of any interest, but not its D. 0. component, the standing current. In many such cases the modulation is relatively weak, be it the slight modulation of the emis ion from a photo-cathode due to a modulated light beam in the presence of ambient illumination, or be it the slight modulation imparted to the thermionic cathode current of an amplifier stage by a weak signal voltage on its grid.

In all cases the practicable amplification by means of the present types of electron multipliers is seriously limited by the presence of the proortionately amplified standing current.

If the am lification were made so large as to yield the desired am litude of modulation at the output stage, then the so much lar er standing current would have attained an enormous value, beyond the ca acity of any reasonable power supply,- and would require very large electrode dimensions to permit the necessary heat dissipation. It is thus necessary to restrict, instead, the am lification of the u ual types of electron multipliers to so low values that the standing current in the output sta e remains manageable, and to feed the modulation via an A. 0. coupling to a subseouent amplifier in order to attain the desired signal level.

It is therefore, the main object of my invention so to modify at least one stage of an electron multiplier cascade that I may be able to introduce means to discriminate between the modulation and the standing current,in particular to amplify the modulation to a greater degree than the standing current.

With the above objects in view, an electron multiplying device in accordance with my present invention comprises in combination a source of an amplitude modulated electron beam, an anode, at least one secondary electron emitting electrode called dynode, arranged between the source of a modulated electron beam and the anode, a control grid also arranged between the source of a modulated electron beam and the anode, and

means applying a control voltage to the control grid.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofmy present invention, the control voltage-ap- 1 plied to the control grid is a signal voltage varying in dependence of the amplitude modulations of the electron beam, preferably in proportion to variations within at least one predetermined range of frequencies. I may also provide means supplying a stationary, preferably decelerating bias potential: to the control grid, and to apply the above defined signal voltage to the control grid superimposed up 1. the stationary bias potential thereof.

As mentioned above, my present invention may be applied to any known type of source of a modulated electron beam.

Thus, the source of a modulated electron bea may be a photo-cathode, capable of emitting an electron beam under illumination, and modulate the intensity of the electron beam emitted by" this cathode, e. g. by modulating a light beam: directed on the cathode.

Another source of a modulated beam of electrons with which my invention is usable may" be composed of a cathode emitting a stationary electron beam in combination with a grid arranged in front of this cathode and serving to modulate the intensity of the electron beam leav-.

ing the cathode.

Other suitable sources of modulated electron:

beams will suggest themselves without further enumeration. 1

As is well known, there are two types of elec tron multiplier constructions in use.

In the one type, electrons are reflected in a zigzag path between solid dynodes.

trons depends on certain relations between successive accelerating voltages.

In the other type, the dynodes are pervious to electrons, e. g. each composed of' slats forming a louver. Many such louver dynodes may be arranged in parallel planes behind each other, with the amplification on one side of a louver being substantially unaffected by the field onthe other 'my invention.

With this type the path of the liberated secondary elec- I The novel features which I consider as characteristic for my invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of an electron multiplier tube and circuit therefor provided with a control grid in accordance with mypresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic showing of a modified electron multiplier arrangement; similar to theone shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is also a diagrammatic showing of an-'- other modified electron multiplier arrangement similar to the one shown in Fig. 1; and v Fig. 4 is also a diagrammatic showing of still a further modified electron multiplier arrangement-similarto. the; one; shown in Fig. 1..

The electron multiplier arrangement shown in Figure 1; consistszof'an electron multiplier tube: with threestages of electron multiplication; and associated circuit elements:

The, photo cathode IIlmay beof the trans-- parent type, located on' the inside of the glass envelope I I.

Thefirst dynode I2,-.,the secondr dynode I 3-, and

the-third dynode I4 arealli ofthe-louver type; Y

arranged in parallel planes; followedbythe collector anode I5.

In: accordance with my present; invention, a; control; grid I6; e. g. of parallel'wires; islocated between the second dynode I3}, and the thirddynode, I 4.

The device; is operated by connectingitSCphOtO cathode I r to the. negative terminal of a battery I 1;. andbyconnecting; the: first dynode I 2': to the:

positive terminal: of the-battery I-l as'wellas to the negative-terminal of a second battery I 8-;

Similarly, the second dynode I3- isconnected;.

via the impedance 2I to the positive terminal-of the battery I 8 as well as: to the negative terminal ofa thirdbatteryd 9, and finally; thethird'dynode;

I4- is connected. to' the positive terminal of thebattery I9; and to the: negative terminal of a; fourtlr batteryzll;

The collector anode I is connectedivia the 'load' impedance. 2 2 :to the positive-terminal: ofrthe batteryrZOa.

Inaddition to the above: connections, the con-- trol igridi I6.-'isiconnected via the larger resistance 2.3 to'azpointnegativerelative to the-dynode. it;

.ez-gntbthe tapZiI: on battery I8; The. condenser. is shown as an A. C. couplingbetween the:

drawn=bya. second. positive. potential towards thesecond dynode|-3 where they will liberate-a secondgenerationof secondary electrons, e. g. again; increased by theproportion K. Disregarding the control grid I6, this process will be repeated on.

the third dynode I4 whose emission will finally be collected by the collector anode I5.

However, due to the new arrangement proposed by me, and described above, both the secondstage current between the dynodes I2 and I3, and the third-stage current between the dynodes I3 and I4, will flow through the impedance 2| in opposite directions as shown by arrows 21 and 28.

As, for values of K larger than one, the latter current is the larger, the potenti'aliatthe dynode I3- will be slightly more positive than that of the junction between batteries I3 and I9. Thus, the amplification between dynodes I2 and I3 will be slightly increased through the introduction of the impedance 2| while the amplification betweenthe dynodes l3 and It will be correspondingly reduced. The resulting change in overall amplification may, however, be disregarded since the. two. changes in amplification approximately cancel each other and are, in any case, very small.

It the impedance 2] is oflsufiicientlyhigh value overv the range, or. ranges,.of the desired modula-' tion frequencies, thedynode current willproduce 1 an appreciable signalivoltageacross it,- with posi tive polarity towards thedynode. I-3-wheneverthe beamcurrent. is increased. in.the multiplier cascade.

In. accordance. with. my present. invention, I propose to apply this signal. voltagevia= the cou* pling condenser, 25 to the control grid.- I6. In order to make this control efiectivel proposetochoose the bias .potentialofthe control grid, sup

plied to it via. theresistor. 23 from the-battery tap 24, so negativethatan.appreciable part ofthe electrons liberated at. the dynode. I3--w-il1. notv be able to pass through the control grid I-6, an.diw-ill return to the dynode I3.

If then the .signalvoltage from the impedance 2| is superimposed upon-the D; C. control grid bias supplied to it via. resistor 23-, thena positive excursion of thissignal voltage. will increase the fraction of electrons. liberatedat. the dynode Idthat may passtowards: the third. dynode I i, and. thus further increase the rise in current, while a. decrease in beam current. will'produce a negative excursion in the-control gridvoltage, and thus still further decrease the number of electrons reaching. the dynode I 4.

Thus the current reaching thedynode I l: willv be modulated again bythe signal modulation it already carries.

As is familiar fromamplifier tubes, I may introduce asuitably biased space chargegridnot shown. between the. dynode I3. andthe control grid I5 and/or Imay. also. introduce asuitably biased screen grid-not shown-betweenthecontrol grid I6 and the following dynode I4, thereby modifying the actionof the control grid" I6- in a manner familiar'fromthedesign of amplifier tubes. It will also be'understood that in placeof a .grid- I6 consisting of parallel wires, I may-use any other knownelectrode structure suitable, for the control of an-electron beam.

Since in the arrangement shown in Figure --1, and described above, the second stage current and-the-third stage current fiow in opposite directions as shown-by the arrows 21 and 28, itfollows that the signalvoltage available on impedance 2|. will be-reducedto the extent as-the flowof electronsfromthe dynode I3-towards dyn0de I l is reduced by the control grid I6. Inorder to avoid this disadvantage, I. might, as shown: in

Figure 2, provide. an. arrangement. in which the impedance 2'I is. arranged. in-the connection be tween the junction between batteries l7 and I8 and dynode I2, that is a dynode whose effective multiplication factor K is not affected by the action of the control grid l6.

As mentioned above, I may use different means for creating the necessary signal voltage. Thus, for instance, I might modify the arrangement shown in Figure 2 by substituting for the signal coupling comprising the members 2|, 23, and 25 a coupling by a transformer 32 (Figure 3) whose primary winding 3| is connected between dynode I 2 and the positive terminal of the battery I l, and whose secondary winding 33, replacing the resistance 23, may be connected between the control grid l6 and the battery tap 24. In order to enable selection of the desired frequency range, I- may tune the secondary winding 33 of the transformer 32 to resonance by means of the condenser 35, as shown in Figure 3.

By means of this condenser, it is possible to obtain on the control grid l 6 a signal voltage varying substantially proportionately to the modulation of the electron beam within the desired fre-- quency range.

I wish to note that I might use both feed-forward, and feed-back, signal coupling. In the former, the signal voltage is derived from a dynode preceding the control grid 16, as exemplified in Figures 1, 2, and 3. In the latter case, the signal voltage is fed back from a dynode following the control grid 16, as shown in Figure 4, where all members are numbered as in Figure 3 except that the biasing potential of the control grid I6 is obtained from tap 30 on the battery ll. Also I may insert one control grid each to modulate the electron current between dynode l2 and dynode l3, and again between dynode l3 and dynode [4, either with the same signal voltage derived from impedance 2| or with other signal voltages similarly derived from other dynode currents.

Moreover, I may apply to one or several such control grids other control voltages, such as gating pulses, or the oscillations of a superheterodyne oscillator, alone or in addition to the above described self-modulating signal voltage.

The dynode load impedances such as the one shown in Figure 1 with 2|, should in general be of a high value at the desired modulation frequencies, and may preferably be of low value at all other frequencies including D. C. and the coupling members 23 and 25 should be chosen accordingly.

Since it is assumed that the amplitude of the original modulation is small compared with the standing current, it follows that any nonlinear distortion due to the subsequent selfmodulation will be negligible.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of electron multipliers, differing from the types described above.

WhileI have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in electron multipliers provided with photo cathodes, I do not intend to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of my invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior 6; art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electron multiplying device comprising in combination a cathode emitting a modulated electron beam; an anode to collect said modulated electron beam; at least two secondary electron emitting electrodes arranged between said cathode emitting a modulated electron beam and said anode, one of said secondary electron emitting electrodes being the last secondary electron emitting electrode before said anode; impedance means associated with one of said secondary electron emitting electrodes other than said last secondary electron emitting electrode and developing a signal voltage varying proportionately to variations of predetermined components of the modulations of said modulated electron beam; a control arid arranged between said anode and that secondary electron emitting electrode which is associated with said impedance means; and coupling means applying said signal voltage developed by said impedance means to said control grid, so as to vary the intensity of the electron beam passing through said control grid in accordance with the variations of the predetermined components of the modulations of said modulated electron beam, said control grid acting on the electron stream coming from said secondary electron emitting electrode associated with said impedance means.

2. An electron multiplying device comprising in combination a cathode emitting a modulated electron beam an anode to collect said modulated electron beam'; at least two secondary electron emitting electrodes arranged between said cathode emitting a modulated electron beam and said anode, one of said secondary electron emitting electrodes bein the last secondary electron emitting electrode before said anode; impedance means associated with one of said secondary electron emitting electrodes other than said last secondary electron emitting electrode and developing a signal voltage varying proportionately to variations of predetermined components of the modulations of said modulated electron beam; a control grid arranged between said anode and that secondary electron emitting electrode which is associated with said impedance means; means supplying a constant bias potential to said control grid; and coupling means applying said signal voltage developed by said impedance means to said control grid superimposed upon said constant bias potential thereof, so as to vary the intensity of the electron beam passing through said control grid in accordance with the variations of the predetermined components of the modulations of said modulated electron beam, said control grid acting on the electron stream coming from said secondary electron emitting electrode associated with said impedance means.

3. An electron multiplying device comprising in combination a cathode emitting a modulated electron beam; an anode upon which said modulated electron beam is impinging; at least two secondary electron emitting electrodes arranged between said cathode emitting a modulated electron beam and said anode, one of said secondary electron emitting electrodes being the last secondary electron emitting electrode before said anode; impedance means associated with one of said secondary electron emitting electrodes other than said last secondary electron emitting electrode and developing a signal voltage varying proportionately to variations. of at least one predetermined frequency range of the modulations of said modulated electron beam; a control grid arranged between said anode and said secondary electron emitting electrode which is asssociated with said impedance means; means supplying a constant negative bias potential to said control grid; and coupling means applying said signal voltage developed by said impedance means to said control grid superimposed upon said constantneg-ative bias potential thereof, so as to vary the intensity of the electron beam passing through said control grid in accordance with the variations of the predetermined frequency range of the modulations. of said modulated electron beam, said control grid actin on the electron 8,, stream coming from said secondary electron emitting electrode associated with said impedance means.

HEINZ E. KAILMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,151,771 Jarvis et al. Mar. 28, 1939 2,181,720 Barthelemy Nov. 28, 1939 2,201,587 Krawinkel May 21, 1940 2,245,119 Walton June 10, 1941 2,294,782 Jacobsen Sept. 1, 1942 2,310,883 Thom Feb, 9, 1943 2,342,986 Van Den Bosch Feb. 29, 1944 

